No does not mean yes. No doesnt mean I still want to. A handbook that is not going to stop a rape. Or maybe she actually is a sophomore right now? The last thing Christendom needs is a kangaroo court that believes everything that comes out of accusers mouths. [8], During Fedoryka's seven-year tenure as president, Blessed Margaret and St. Joseph's Halls were constructed, and the college became fully accredited in 1987. Whatever happened to justice? Everyone knew., Smith complained to the school, and she says they gave Marshner a slap on the wrist.. Judge William W. Sharp accepted the agreement and Luckeys guilty pleas. You are right, men do absolutely do have that ability to control themselves. In 1992, Dr. Timothy O'Donnell, who had been a professor at Christendom since 1985, was named as the college's third president. The college has strict rules about students of opposite sexes being alone together. The point has also been made if a guy really is a rapist, do you think he would settle for PDA on campus anyway? Like the stuff sang at the FOPs. There were crazy people, there were priests who dispensed truly awful guidance in spiritual direction. The fact that they used a separate situation to impose a restriction on him should give you a sense of how they had to act within their own evidentiary boundaries to avoid being sued. I sympathize with the people who want a man to be expelled based on one womans testimony (such as in the above article), but we have to admit that is at the expense of innocent men getting expelled as well. I dont wish to discredit those who are appalled by the rape epidemic and Adele Smiths case, as it is horrific matter; but there are campuses where this stuff is much more frequent, and its not because they arent Catholic in a nominal sense, nor is it because they endorse rape, but its because theres not always a clear procedure as to how to address it. Most of secular culture righteously denounces rape, and praises consent. Frankly I think you have misused a term that is quite affectionate.school is a place to learn and at this particular school it is a place to strengthen ones faith. Then on November 24, 2009, you sat next to her on a bench and made unwanted contact with her by placing your hand on her knee. i would find out who is funding this school of etiquette masking as an institution of higher learning before i would give them a plug nickle.. A school can also have clearly defined sexual assault policies on the books, and discuss these policies with their students. Having the campus always on lockdown? Instead, youre put into remote, isolated areas where things can get out of hand.. This sexualization makes things particularly difficult for men because on men simply of the way men are wired. If only for the sake of that important virtue diversity shouldnt there be ONE school in the country that has these rules for those who CHOOSE to attend? The way I see it, and many may disagree with this, but the failure was not a moral failure, but an administerial one(if that). The semester also includes a week's pilgrimage to Assisi and Siena as well as a trip to Florence. Badly bungling? It was a good conversation, to this day he is one of the only people I've spoken with in real life who I think truly understood the problem and its implications. They must have some political sway, as they probably provide a great deal of the towns revenue. If Simcha cant openly accuse the guy of rape, how can the school? The article linked directly to the current handbook. This is a legal matter, and the school is right to wash its hands clean of that responsibility as they are not qualified to deal with such accusations on their own. Way to play Blame the Victim! The college has not released the results of this audit to the public. During his tenure, the college increased the number of buildings on campus to over 20, including St. Lawrence Commons, St. Francis, St. Benedict, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Clare Hall, St. Louis the Crusader Gymnasium, and St. John the Evangelist Library. Going Drinkin with Lincoln before class on Lincolns Birthday and getting buzzed or worse. That takes a lot of strength to write to them like that. No one doubts that passion is difficult, that lust is strong and difficult to master. The Christendom scandal, is about an administration, who got ahold of a case after the legal authorities were already informed and failed to do anything, and then tried to fix the problem in a very lowkey diplomatic way, that would prevent them from being sued by the kids family. Gross inaccuracies in the story include quoting someone as saying men and women arent allowed to even sit next to each other. That bothers me as well. Students to Spend Spring Break on Mission Trips, Womens Basketball Takes Runner-Up in Conference Tournament, Christendom Rugby Punches Ticket to Nationals. I left at the end of my freshman year (wouldve been class of 17 if I stayed). All the fancy theology was useless for anything except further torturing myself for not being a good enough Catholic, not following the rules enough, and not being spiritual enough. But by not questioning the accused on the matter of rape (it wasnt mentioned in his disciplinary notice), the college forfeited responsibility altogether. The PDA does NOT push kids into private remote areas. I want trying to make things seem like a cheap sex novel, just trying to illustrate that things can happen quickly without us really knowing what is going on, which we can later regret. The students views, whether they arrived with them or picked them up at Christendom, were wildly sexist both men and women. Where would be a better Catholic college to send your daughter, Simcha? I understand it is difficult to do so, but if justice is to be served publicly, accusations must be made in public. She links to it directly! It was oppressively stifling there. You clearly didnt read my comments carefully. History [ edit] Founding [ edit] This also means there is no publicly available data about sexual assaults or other crimes taking place on campus, as is required of Title IX schools. You can see it, you can feel it on the campusWhile some colleges in this Guide may match its Catholic commitment, it is unlikely that any exceeds it. The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College. In 2021, the rugby team won the National Collegiate Rugby Cohen Cup National Championship in Houston, Texas, defeating New Mexico Tech. [12] Construction began in 1992, and was completed in 1995. But actual campus police on a campus of 400? Were charged ever filed? All his body language was hostile and arrogant.. It was not reported to the police for YEARS. I kept up with a few of my friar classmates over the years. It was usually fairly evident who those people were and if you didnt want trouble, you stayed out of their circle. I dont consider Cdoms PDA policy unreasonable. Hes not going to fall for that. Grad school was a very supportive environment for me in a number of ways. Absolutely, but leaders have to weigh the pros and cons, of which there are many, and seek the greater good. An authentically Catholic college that prepares you for the future. But I think what this often boils down to is he said vs she said. There are women who lie, even if they are a tiny minority. It was the same with the guys open house, except theyd have TVs and video games. It does truly permeate the campus. Not everything that the school chooses to ban has to be a sin. This is such a difficult and upsetting situation it is helpful to read your perspective. Why? Higher rates of rape, according to USNews&World Report. I appreciate your thoughtful comments. And its really sad when a woman is then abused in this way. People were mostly really nice, and there was this kind of lovely cocoon of ideological sameness that I'd never experienced before. . We ignore it at our peril. While I was a student at Christendom, an off-campus, non-student male pursued a female student across the campus. I, a female, was molested at 10 by a female with power who was near to my age (but who wielded unequal power to me). Smith continued to call the school after graduation to see if they had changed the policy. "[9] Fedoryka resigned in 1992, in order to pursue other educational ventures, including stints at Franciscan University of Steubenville[10] and Ave Maria College in Michigan (later Ave Maria University FL.[11]). Oh my gosh. ), Protected: Podcast #48: Accidentally unnamed, Protected: Podcast #46: Mamas little snakey loves bananofee pie, Protected: Podcast #45: Sharples and cocaine, Protected: Podcast 44: Some degree of martyrdom, One long dad joke: My interview with EOTTs S.C. Naoum. I could go on, but my point is that we MUST see sexual assault as a bigger issue than something that men perpetrate upon women. She sought psychological help from Dr. Patrick Divietri. Yes! no government financial help??? And boy, you are right. Los Angeles City Councilmember resigns after leaked racist remarks. I had seen already something was wrong, something had happened, Foeckler said. This article is a libel suit waiting to happen. In the example, they decide to fornicate, but then the young woman regrets her choice, and decides to claim the young man attacked her. Students who go to remote areas are by-passing safe, public places where they could engage in the PDA behavior you complain is banned on campus. In speaking with our counsel, it is my understanding that under Virginia law, the doctrine of in loco parentis as applied to colleges and universities simply means that Christendom has a responsibility to provide a safe campus for its students. College students are able to refrain the same as monks, office workers, single adults and most adults in public life. I could leave my laptop lying out anywhere on campus, with no password, and be confident I could come back and find it un-stolen. . As far as I can see, either your outrage should be with park police and the legal system that did nothing, as opposed to the school which actually did something(albeit minor), or you should be mad at yourselves for not hiring a bounty hunter to mutilate the guy. We care if you drink off campus, but not if you rape off campus, she said. All it did was push people into secret places where chastity was more in danger. Thats pretty horrific behavior in Catholic men at a Catholic institution. No, it takes opening a word document and writing it up: Dont rape people. If theres a single member on your board who has an issue with that, they shouldnt be on that board, Smith said. [T]he alleged assault of Adele did not take place on campus. Smith considered leaving the college, and looked into other schools. In 2018, while delivering the Commencement Address for Christendom, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said, This is a wonderful, wonderful, college a decidedly Catholic college, and I am decidedly and unapologetically Catholic. It is this faith that has been the guiding beacon during some difficult and seemingly hopeless times, even when I had turned my heart against Him and turned my back on [faith]. When we do so, the conversations about purity culture and what people wear will also become moot points, because it is about power and consent, regardless of gender. As I said, virtue thrives in the light. I cant think of anything more serious than that, thats shy of expulsion. Beyond that, it is about how Christendom failed this student and failed others students, and in so doing, failed their Catholic mission. I knew sooner or later someone would bring up the Novus Ordo Mass. If it isnt its that much harder for anyone to investigate or deal with. If these things are happening, then it is accurate. : Any other apostate Cdom grads out there, or anyone with a relatable experience of Catholic higher education? And certainty this is a universal problem, but Christendom was the first place I ever had to sit at a desk and be talked about in terms like less rational,secondary and obedient. I also disagree with your assessment that author doesnt have a clear stance on whether the student should have been expelled. If they arent keeping track, then the are no statistics to tell you what happens on campus and of campus. 2) If the college does anything to improve, dont actually describe their efforts in the article. In retrospect, I can say, Youre a dummy! But back then, I was nineteen. And no, I'm not giving you any donations. Enjoy your freedom. There are not a lot of options if you dont have a car. If it was truly necessary that students seek sexual/affection outlets, then I dont blame Cdom for wanting to have no part in policing or monitoring, how far is too far. Chastity is their moral prerogative and they would rather err on the side of caution than participate. I emerged with my virginity intact. Hes not stopping. Catholic or nonCatholic, If one interprets this as a endorsement of rape, the fault is on them. Which they could now do on campus anyway. All I can say is, be happy the shackles are gone. Christendom College does not receive federal funding, and so is not subject to Title IX regulations, which would legally require it to respond to and remedy hostile educational environments. A school can also take rape allegations seriously, and remove the accused person from campus. Simchas piece was very specific. Regarding specific inaccuracies, one source has come forward to say her quote was taken out of context to imply something that she never meant it to. They have further to go to create safe environments for women. It sounds like from what the article describes, that they had to dig deeper to find a situation in which they could implement a punishment on the guy, and they told them that they understood their anguish. Recently, one of the priests who was a major force on campus has charged with rape of a mentally-ill woman. The school promised to conduct a complete and careful investigation.. At that point, any option is deteriorating in safety. #4. do we know/ do you know who is funding CC??? Protected: Podcast #20: GET THAT ALLIGATOR AWAY FROM ME! we have reports that indicate that you have violated the Code of Student Conduct by harassing another student Another student instructed you to leave her alone but you continued. You described lust and difficulty mastering it. . nor were the other women I know who hung out with them. And all the fancy words you use cant hide that. Why would the accusers parents ever, ever, ever send their daughter back to the place where she was abused and seemingly unhappy, uncomfortable and failing classes? want more proof of sexual assualts? The college now employs more than 40 full-time faculty members,[16] compared to the original five, along with a number of adjunct members. Maybe you didnt mean to imply this to be the case for her, but using her name in the example makes it seem so. In the letter, ODonnell tells Smiths father that the school understands the anguish the Smith family is feeling as they wait for a judgment against the young man, and that the college will make a complete and careful investigation of [Smiths] allegations before rendering a decision that will impact both the life of the accused and the accuser.. They brought the skills of their craft to shining a light on the dark underbelly of this college. Banning them from living on campus and allowing a professor to shelter them does not protect other students.. duplicitous. What an incredible witness to the faith! The college cracks down on professors hosting parties with drinking, because theyre professors. Additionally, throwing out names of administrators and teachers as part of this story (good or bad) without their permission taints their reputation. Was there ever a police report filed? She felt frozen and could not reply. In addition: Christendom is welcome, indeed it would be very good, if they could give an accurate list of the inaccuracies and mistakes in this article. Please post in r/excatholicDebate for further discussion, Press J to jump to the feed. Smith says the school claimed it takes a long time to implement changes in school policy. So you know how safe it felt and looked. Protected: Episode 63: There can be only one hole in the head. We contacted the young man and he has not yet responded, so we are not using his name at this time. Yeah, the campus is pretty, but the culture is weird. Help me fund this site and get access to my and my husbands occasional podcast and other perks. Im aware that Cdom extends this into private life as well, but its not a stretch that adults would all around be able to practice self control. And I still have some fond memories of the place, even today. I hope the girls involved will know that sharing what happened will help others. This whole story made me so sad, especially reading it as a Christendom graduate and now mother who is raising sons and daughters in this confused and fallen world. You spoke to the parents of the graduating students gathered there of the profound sense of responsibility you felt of acting in loco parentis for our children and your gratitude that we, as their parents, had entrusted our children to you . Good job trying to romanticize rape, but your writing would be more appropriate in a pornographic novel, where creeps actually try to convince themselves women enjoy being raped. Following allegations that Christendom College mishandled student sexual assault reports, the college's administration has said it is committed to doing better. What was he going to say? Marshner has since left Christendom. Im only speaking from experience to illustrate what I see as a very nebulous scenario for both parties. Is it worse to let a rapist remain on campus or expel an innocent student? Smith and her family were floored. How can a school prevent a student from going off campus to rape another? Or even if he left Front Royal, this would not guarantee the safety of other women. 237: Creative naan compliance, Special Valentines FREE Episode: 20 things we hated about FIREPROOF, Protected: Podcast #65: Sometimes goat is just not GOAT. I cant stop him, apparently, she recalled thinking. Christendom College. The cultural revolution of the twentieth century continues to take its toll on the world and on Catholic higher education. Christendom doesnt have anything like that. This would be a situation in which shed be even less safe as the university would literally have no leverage over him. But at the same time, Christendom was a dream in a bubble. But while Christendom . Gross means the opposite of minor. When I went back to visit a few years later it was hard for me because I felt bereaved in a waylike this safe space full of spiritual fantasies and security had been permanently denied to me. His career and family may well be affected by that casual reference. Our time-tested integrated liberal arts education is the ideal education for the future. The more men have to be heroic, the more women do as well. I havent given it a lot of thought. I am having trouble understanding how policies against public displays of affection and against men & women being in each others dorms contributes to rape. The woman interviewed described what she remembered from the time she was there. And also, there were a number of bad experiences in grad school that shouldn't be neglected. Yet, it is offered without proof of any sort, or even a source willing to go on record. And the sexist views of some professors didnt help us stay safe. An RA friend, Elizabeth Foeckler, also encouraged her to go to the administration. How clear is our no, really? Experience the most popular, well-attended, and highly-ranked pre-college summer program of its kind. I love how liberal dissidents throw trad around like its some kind of slur. Yes, the prosecutor has to prove BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT the guilt of the accused. Simcha, Im honestly curious what your objective is in publishing something like this? The problems with rape at Christendom are the problems with rape anywhere. Is it possible that they could get it wrong? Contact Leslie Mathews by email at lmathews@christendom.edu or by phone by calling 540.551.9300. Have girls refuse to be allowed in cars with boys, since it requires cars to go to Skyline Drive? Well, yes and no. What did this mean about me in my conservative Christian culture? Miriel. There is much that reeks of shoddy reporting in these two pieces: basically only one side was presented when the facts were right in front of the Fishers (e.g., through the current student handbook and interviewees). jlhyacintha wrote: A school can also take rape allegations seriously, and remove the accused person from campus. If you dont have weed places, does that mean youll get crack places? He pushed my arms apart with his hands. I am not making this up. O.o. My condolences for all the victims. A US NEWS & WORLD REPORT article says it isnt working too well. Gigi, when I dated a man who attended Christendom, we had extended conversations about the philosophy of human nature that led one of the professors to conclude that, among other things, (a) women are ontologically inferior to men and (b) women shouldnt vote. Liked it? I remember him once going on a rant about how tattoos are marks of psychological disorder and moral perversion. #1 . Note: This subreddit is a support forum and not a debate group and will be moderated accordingly. Christendom has no love, and without love there is only tyranny. Protected: Podcast 36: She googled THIS on a Friday night and what she saw made her lose her mind! I didnt say they should immediately assume hes a rapist, call him a rapist, and publicly expel him as a rapist. in Theological Studies degrees online. If you think about it for half a second, youd realize youre asking more of Christendom than literally any institution could ever do, at least when it comes to prevention. The curriculum consists of three years of study in Theology, three years in Philosophy, two years in English Language and Literature, two years in Classical or Modern Language, two years in History, one year in Political Science and Economics, one year in Mathematics and Natural Science, and 4 years of Education for Life career preparation coursework. First, Christendom College could have made their own report to the police. Disclosing abuse and its aftermath is painful and difficult, and it takes a tremendous amount of courage. Its hard to explain why my GPA is so poor.. [14] The school has also broken enrollment goals and records numerous years in a row, defying declining higher education enrollment trends across the United States. He may or may not be a rapist, but do you really want institutions denouncing a man as a rapist without a trial. Thanks; I've largely shed myself of the Catholic mental baggage by this point, so don't worry. Your article doesnt make sense . The fact that you think men are walking around Christendoms campus grabbing at womens arses and nobody does anything because their is a boys will be boys attitude just shows how naive you are. That doesnt really sound like they didnt take it seriously, but that they went above and beyond the accusation at face value and tried to address it by doing extensive research.